Hello everyone,
I am pretty sure most of you won't check this, but as it is my New Year's resolution, I thought I would post something. I was thinking about an idea to continue our discussion of pH. It would be great if the kids could collect some snow and let it melt and then bring it to school on Tuesday, or the next day we come to school. I would love to test the pH. My prediction is that they would be somewhat similar, but you never know. Today would also be a great day, between the sledding, snowball fights, and hot chocolate, to do some snow related science experiments. I am sure there are experiments that your kids could set up using snow and other readily available items. I hope everyone enjoys the snow. Take care and see you soon.
Mr. C
P.S. Here are just a few ideas that I found on the web. Happy Snow Day!
How clean is snow? Collect a few cups of snow. Put it in a saucepan and heat it to melt. Cover a bowl or jar with a layer of paper towels or porous cloth, held in place with tape or a rubber band. When the water is cool enough to pour safely, pour it slowly through the paper towel layers or white cloth. Examine the paper or cloth to see if any specks of dirt or sediment were in the snow. Find any? Still think snow is clean enough to eat?
Make ice castles. Gather up some plastic bowls, cups, small tubs or basins, and plastic drink glasses, etc. Take these outside and fill them with water. (The temperature must drop below the freezing point of 32 degrees. ) Overnight, the containers will freeze and the next day you can warm the containers and tump the ice forms out. Make these into castles as you would play with sand on the beach. With water you can "glue" the shapes together. Adorn the tops with small icicles.
Colored snow lights. Kids in Germany make these lights in the winter. You will need to fill three containers with water. Add food coloring to the water containers to make blue, green, and red water. Now make up a batch of snowballs, about ten for each color. Dip each in a colored water. Mound the colored snowballs in little mounds like igloos with one side left open. Place a small candle in the center of each snowball mound. Light will glow out through the colored snowballs and make lights along your sidewalk or garden path.
Snow Blindness Goggles. Snow reflects so much light that explorers and travelers in snowy regions many times found themselves blinded by the brightness. Make a pair of snow glasses by cutting a section of cardboard about six inches long and about three inches tall. Hold the cardboard up to your face and ask someone to help you by marking where your eyes are with tape or stickers. Cut narrow slits to see through across the tape marks and a "V" shape to fit over your nose. Punch a hole in each end and tie a long rubber band section to each hole. Tie the bands together to fit your head. Try going outside without the glasses and then putting them on. Can you see better with them? Do you still have to squint?
How strong is ice? For this experiment you will need a plastic jug like milk or juice comes in. It must have a screw on lid. Fill the jug to the top with water and screw the cap on firmly. Now set the jug outside. The water will expand as it freezes and burst the side of the milk jug
